Page 114 of One Nightstand With My Ex's Uncle

EMILY’S POV.

“Why did you do that?” I asked, after seeing him put my phone on airplane mode. I missed Lucas, and he was finally calling, but I couldn’t pick his call?

“Why? I thought I explained my reasons. These three days are for us alone, no interruptions. You can’t connect to anyone outside of this town. It has to be just the both of us. Is it that hard to comprehend?”

“And what if it’s an important call? I haven’t seen a place where employees are denied from taking calls on business trips.” I shot back, annoyed at his selfish behavior.

“And what would Lucas say that can be really important? I believe it can wait. Or are you dating him? You can’t stay away from him for three days?”

“This is unacceptable. No company does this. I haven’t seen…”

“You’re seeing it now, Emily. Do I have to run my business the way others run theirs? I believe not.” He said, sipping his tea. “Whatever important thing he has to say, I’m sure he can handle it on his 0wn, so don’t worry. We have to go out soon. Eat.” He said, but I didn’t. I made to leave.

Before I could make three steps away, he had grabbed my arm.

“Please. Just eat.” He said, and I looked at him. “I don’t want to fight. Just let’s be without distractions. Today’s the last day we’re spending here, isn’t it?” He said, and I sighed.

One more night, and I would see Lucas. I wouldn’t have to endure John.

I sat just as he wanted, and crammed the bread into my mouth. Finishing my breakfast would earn me some alone time without him.

~

After breakfast, John and I drove out onto the streets, and I folded my arms when he brought me to the cinema we frequented back. His plan was already obvious to me. He wanted me to visit the old places, in hopes that it would awaken old feelings in me.

I scoffed, wondering if he’d grow up. We got our tickets for the movie, and he insisted on getting the couple popcorn, and a jumbo-sized drink with two straws.

The theater was cool, but not cold. It couldn’t be cold compared to the weather outside.

“Guess what we’re watching.” He asked, and I raised a brow.

“What?”

“The hunchback. If you need a napkin, I have loads on me.” He said, and I scoffed.

“I still remember you were the one always needing them. You’re no man in front of a sad movie, John.” I said, and he chuckled.

“That was years ago. I have changed…”

“Ssh. The movie is starting.” I said, as total darkness fell over the theater. More people came in, filling up the seats, and I wondered why they couldn’t make it before the movie started. They were distracting us.

The place was cramped up, and due to the amount of people, and their heavy, layered clothing, the theater became warmer.

The movie began on a funny note, and each time I wanted to burst out laughing, I’d bite my lip, with flared nostrils, but each time, it was a failure.

John seemed thrilled to hear me laugh. It was like ‘mission accomplished’ to him, and each time our hands touched, while taking popcorn, he’d try to lock his finger around mine, which came off as disgusting.

Whenever I tried to sip, he’d turn, and demand to sip, wanting us to sip together, but I didn’t give him that satisfaction. I let him sip from his straw first, before sipping from mine.

And at the end of the movie, he ended up needing his napkins. When the main character died, I could resist laughing silently at his tear-filled eyes. The tears rolled down his cheeks, and his eyes were completely glued to the screen. He couldn’t even notice me laughing at him.

“Have you finally gotten your business idea?” I asked, when we stepped onto the streets.

“Uh, not yet. It’s still forming. Since the movie made things so sad, let’s go somewhere happy.” He said, and I rolled my eyes. I already knew where his next stop would be.

The arcade.

It was another place we had visited as love-crazed teens.

“Do you remember?” He asked, as we stepped out of the car, minutes later after getting to the arcade.

“I do.” I replied.

“I want to try the song machine again. Do you still listen to Blues?” He asked, pulling me inside. Being back at a place where our energy was usually the highest seemed to instill energy into us.

We found the song machine which would jump from song to song. The more lines you sang perfectly, the more scores you got.

“Hello from the other side!” I sang to Adele’s hello, but the song changed quickly.

“Gosh, I know this song!” John exclaimed, and we happened to remember at the same time.

We sang together, “…wild! Wild!! Wild!!! I wanna love you for miles and miles!” We both laughed, as we sang together without mistakes.

“This is Taylor Swift’s…” He began, trying to remember.

“He’d never tell you, but he can play guitar. Think he can see through everything but my heart.” I sang, and he clapped.

The song changed, “Just a smile and the rain is gone!” We sang together, without skipping a beat. “Can hardly believe that! Yeah! There’s an angel standing next to me, reaching for my heart!”

We were like teens with renewed energy. The old blues we always listened to seemed to spark fire in our hearts.

After the song machine, we went for more games— shooting, archery, driving, riding, quiz, computer games. For a moment, I forgot about everything else, and basked in that moment. It was my only chance to go back to the past.

In the arcade, he wasn’t cheating, lying and aggressive John, but the John who only wanted to love me.

After the arcade, we sang in the car to Westlife.

“I lay my love on you. It’s all I wanna do. Every time I…” We stopped.

“What’s the next line?” I asked, and he laughed.

“I don’t remember. I think it’s ‘every time I breathe, I feel brand new.’”

“Yes, then it’s ’you open up my heart. Show me all your love…ouch I’ve forgotten that too.” I said, hitting my lip.

“Let’s finish it. ’As I lay my love…”

“On you.” I completed, and we laughed.

“You know, Emily. No one is perfect. We all make mistakes. I don’t want you to change when we get back to the mansion.” He said, and I began to fiddle with the radio buttons. “You might get there, and start thinking maybe… I don’t know, maybe I’m lying to you. I want you to know that…”

“Stop.” I said.

“At least, let me explain…”

“No, stop. The radio.” I said, and he stopped.

“He called for a press conference that seemed to go wrong as the public could not accept that the leaked, sexual photos of Derel Granger were photo shopped…” The announcer was saying.

“I have to go back.”

“What? Lucas will solve that. You can’t just…”

“No! I have to go. You mean this has been happening, and I know nothing about it?”

“Emily, it’s just one more night.” He said, but I couldn’t wait for one more night. Was that why Lucas had called? Was everything fine back at home? Did he need someone to talk to?

“John…”

“Emily, just one more night won’t hurt. We leave in the morning. Just one more night.”

“Fine. I’ll jump out.” I said, pushing open the door.